To all of the mother’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day.

Of course, I want to take a moment to recognize some of the special mothers in my life. My grandmother — my father’s mother — who recently lost her husband, and is one of the bravest, strongest women I know. She came to the United States from Portugal when she was 16 and went on to build a life for herself with a husband and four children. My other grandmother — my mother’s stepmother — os one of the kindest, most caring people that you’ll ever meet, but she’s also a pit bull.

Of course, my mother deserves special mention. She is a strong, accomplished, successful, caring woman who has weathered so much and still survived. She has at times been my toughest opponent and my harshest critic. She’s made me more frustrated than I’ve ever been in my entire life. But in just about every situation, after some time has passed, I’ve realized that she was right and I was wrong, and she only ever wanted the best for me. (It’s funny how you realize that more and more as you get older.) And even when she was pushing me and challenging me, it was always for my own good. My mom has been my biggest supporter and most enthusiastic fan. She’s believed in me, even when maybe she shouldn’t have, and she’s been willing to fight for me to give me the opportunities I’ve had. She’s worked hard and sacrificed much to give me the privileged upbringing I was so lucky to have. She’s never lost her faith, even after she lost a child (my brother). No matter what life has thrown at her, she’s found a way to overcome. And I can only hope that one day, I will have half of her beauty, intelligence, and class.

So, Happy Mother’s Day, to the woman who has made me who I am today, and worked so hard to let me try to achieve my dreams. I love you, Mom!